title: Efficacy of heartworm preventatives against ascarids and hookworms in client-owned dogs: a retrospective case control study.
abstract: The efficacy of heartworm preventatives against ascarids and hookworms was assessed in a retrospective analysis of 1329 dogs that received a fecal examination and were surveyed about heartworm preventative use upon presentation to the veterinary teaching hospital at the University of Pennsylvania. To remove confounding due to age, patients under 6 months old were analyzed separately from the remaining population. Although there were no reported cases of ascarids or hookworms in patients under 6 months old receiving monthly heartworm prevention, the prevalence reached 5.2% and 11.7%, respectively, in patients that were not using any products. For patients over 6 months old, there were no apparent associations between parasites and heartworm preventative use. Of the 75.5% of dogs that were administered heartworm preventatives, 16.1% reported seasonal use and 83.9% reported using the products year round. Patients using heartworm preventatives seasonally were no more likely to be harboring nematode parasites than patients using preventatives year round (OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.19-2.55). Overall efficacy rates were consistent with prior studies on the active ingredients. Heartworm preventative have the greatest value for controlling nematode endoparasites in patients under 6 months old.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gates
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Nolan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017191:Ascaridida Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D001199:Ascaridoidea; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000517:prevention & control; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004285:Dogs; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005369:Filaricides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006725:Hookworm Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005369:Filaricides